Washing machine



Sept. 9, 1930. o. "r. DEHLE 1,775,554

WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheetl Sept. 9, 1930.

O. T. DEHLE WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WM/ WPatented Sept. 9, 1930 PATENT OFFICE- OTTO T. DEHLE, OF WATERTOWN,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOBTO MULTI-HYDRO WASH- ING- MACHINE COMPANY, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A.

MASSACHUSETTS CORPORATION OF WASHING MACHINE Application filed January5, 1929. Serial No. 330,687.

This invention relates to an improved washing machine, particularly toone that washes clothes solely by the movement of soapy water underpressure.

Such a machine to wash clothes satisfactorily must introduce the soapywater forcefully and rapidly, and preferably continuously, to the tub,at several diiferent points, and simultaneously with the introduction ofWater to the tub there must be an escape of the same quantity of waterfrom the tub back to the pump without any interference or clogging,otherwise the pump will not function and, the washing operation willcease. This rapid escape of a large quantity of water causes a powerfulsuction which tends to draw the clothes in the tub into the holesthrough which the water is escaping, thereby clogging them and bringingthe washing operation to a standstill.

In my patent application, Serial Number 301,541, filed August 23rd,1928, in which I illustrated and described a washing machine which willwash clothes quickly and thoroughly, even though very soiled, solelyby avigorous and rapid movement of'soapy water in the tank, I provided anunclogging mechanism which acts automatically to keep the machine inoperation by dislodging whatever may clog the return Water openings.This problem of suction arose in connection with the operation ofthemachine of said application because of the introduction of so much waterrapidly at so many different points and the consequent necessity for thesimultaneous escape of the same quantity of water back to the pump.

The primary object of my invention is to dispense with the need for anunclogging mechanism by providing proper openings. in the tank for theescape of water to the pump so located that no clogging can take place.

In designing a washing machine that will wash clean all of the clothesin the ordinary family washing, including large pieces such as sheetsand very soiled articles, solely by the movement of water introduced tothe tank underpressure, a new problem has been createdthat of cloggingdue to suction as explained above. I have succeeded in overcoming thisclogging difiiculty' by so placing my water escape openings that theclothes in the tank cannot clog them. This has been accomplished chieflyby locating all of these holes or openings above the points where thewater is introduced to the tank, and therefore above the irregularcourse taken by the clothes in the washing operation. By so 10- catingthem, the tendency of the suction to draw the clothes into the escapeholes is overcome by the incoming streams of water forcing the clothesto follow a course which is lower than said holes. These escape openingsare preferably all made in one side of the tank, and more preferably inthat side where the water is introduced in horizontal streams.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and operative arrangement ofparts such as is disclosed bythe drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render itsusceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I amnot to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings; but amentitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of myclaims.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a washing machineconstructed in accordance with my invention.

terior of the cabinet, a bottom wall 13 and a top wall 14. The top wall14 is preferably a rectangular frame providing within it a (preferably)rectangular opening that is occupied by a metal tank or receptacle 15,commonly called a tub. The chime of this tank is made with an out-turnedflange 16 resting upon and secured to the top wall 14;.

The tank 15, which is preferably rectangular in shape, has four sidewalls, two of which, 18 and 19, are shown in section in Fig. 2. Thesefour side walls are integral with each other and with the bottom wall20. This bottom wall preferably slopes downwardly at an appreciableangle towards the side wall 18. The side walls 18 and 19 and the bottomwall 20 are corrugated as shown in the drawings in order to provide arough surface and thereby get a rubbing action when the clothes come incontact with this surface in their movement in the tank 15. In thebottom wall 20, preferably adjacent the side wall 18 two pipes 22 areconnected to said bottom by soldering, through which water is deliveredto the tank 15 under pressure in ver tical streams. These pipes 32 areconnected with a manifold 23 through which water is forced from acentrifugal pump 24, whose rotor is connectedwith and driven by thearmature shaft 25 of an electric motor 26. Both the centrifugal pump 24:and the motor 26 are fixed to a base plate 27, which in turn is fixed tothe bottom wall 13 of the cabinet. At the bottom of the tank adjacentthe outlet end of the pipes 22 is a pipe 29 soldered to said bottom,through which the water may be drained from the tank 15 and dischargedThis pipe 29 is controlled by a valve 29, which is kept closed duringthe washing operation. 1

The manifold 23 also supplies (preferably) three pipes 31 which extendupwardly therefrom along the side 18 of the tank 15 to near the upperend of the latter where they are connected by laterally directed pipeterminals 32 with the interior of the tank 15. Water discharges fromthese pipe terminals 32 in forceful horizontal streams into the tank 15.1

Above the terminals 32 an opening is made in the tank 15 which iscovered by a removable plate 34 held in place by a pocket 34 formed onthe inner surface of the side 18. This plate 34 has a multiplicity ofperforations 33 in it through which the water escapes back to the pump24. The normal water level of the tank for the washing operation is, ofcourse, sufficiently high so that the water reaches these perforations33 and escapes through them into a hollow castingor housing 35 which issoldered and riveted to the side 18 on the outside of the tank 15. Fromthe housing 35, the water then passes through a return pipe 36 back tothe'pump 24 as shown, from which it is again pumped back into the tank.This movement of water is preferably continuous during the washingoperation, although it could be made intermittent.

Upon the outer side 19 of the tank 15 is soldered, riveted or otherwisefastened, a single pipe terminal 40 pointing obliquely.

downward as shown in Figure 2 of the drawthe opening 41 in a downwardlydirected stream. If desired, a plurality of pipe terminals may be useddelivering water in a plurality of downwardly directed streams. Water issupplied to this pipe terminal 40 bythe delivery pipe 42 which isconnected with the manifold 23 previously referred to.

A cover 50, hinged at 51 to lugs not shown, is provided for closing thetop of tank 15.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, mechanism is shown to drive a wringer (notshown), comprising a base 53 fixed to the base plate 27, a shaft 54. ina housing 55, the lower end of said shaft 54 being connected by gearingwith the armature shaft of motor 26.

In using the machine, water is supplied to the tank 15 until the systemis fully and the water in the tank is at a level with the highest of theperforations 33, and the soiled clothes are dropped in. Then the motorand pump are started in operation by closing the usual switch (notshown) that ,is in the circuit of the motor, which causeswater to flowfrom the pump 24, through the various pipes 22, 31, and 42 to the tank15, which immediately raises the level of water in the tank, whichraised water escapes through the perforations 33 and runs back to thepump 24. This circulation of the water is continuously repeated untilthe clothes are washed clean.

During the operation of the machine three jets of water aredischarged-horizontally across the upper portion of the tank 15 from thepipes 31; a single downwardly oblique jet of water is discharged throughthe opening 41 opposite the outlets of said pipes 31, and two jets ofwater are discharged upwardly through the pipes 22 at the bottom of thetank. These jets of water cause abrupt and vigorous movements of thebody of water and clothes in the tank, moving them in fitful fashion inan uneven, triangular path as they tumble about.

If, for sanitary reasons it is desired to remove the plate-34, and washall foreign substances from it, this may easily be done by sliding itout of the pocket 34*.

What I claim is 1. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacleadapted to receive a cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned,means for forcibly delivering liquid to said receptacle and receiving ittherefrom, said receptacle having provisions for the introduction of anupward stream and a horizontal stream of liquid to it, and havingprovision located above the introducing point of said streams forpermitting the escape of said liquid to said means.

2. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receiveacleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forciblydelivering liquid to said receptacle and receiving it therefrom, saidreceptacle having provisions for the introduction of streams of saidcleansing liquid upwardly from the bottom and horizontally from aplurality of openings at the side to cause a movement of said articles,and having openings located above the course taken by said articles intheir movement to permit the escape of said liquid to said means.

8. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receivea cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forciblydelivering liquid to said receptacle and receiving it therefrom, saidreceptacle having provisions for the introduction of an upwardlydirected stream, a horizontally directed stream and a downwardlydirected stream, and provision located above the introducing point ofsaid streams to permit said liquid to escape and return to said means.

4. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receivea cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forciblydelivering liquid to said receptacle and receiving it therefrom, saidreceptacle having an opening at the bottom spaced from the center, aplurality of openings at the side horizontally adjacent said bottomopenings and an opening at the side substantially opposite saidplurality of side openings, all of said openings serving to introducesaid liquid to said receptacle, and a plurality of openings in the sidelocated abovethe said first mentioned plurality of side openings topermit the said liquid to escape and return to said means.

5. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receivea cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, a pump, saidreceptacle having provisions for introducing said liquid into it at thebottom and side thereof from said pump, and having a plurality ofopenings located above said introducing provisions for permitting theescape of said liquid from the receptacle to said pump.

6. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receivea cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means to force saidliquid to said receptacle and receive it again, said receptacle havingprovisions for the introductionof a stream of said liquid upwardly,another stream horizontally and another stream obliquely downward andprovision located above said horizontal stream to permit the escape ofsaid liquid from said receptacle to said means.

vision in one of said sides for permitting the escape of said liquidfrom said receptacle to said means.

8. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receivea cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forciblydelivering liquid to said receptacle and receiving it therefrom, saidreceptacle having provision for the introduction of said cleansingliquid from the bottom and from a plurality of points at the side tocause said articles to follow a course of movement, and provisionlocated higher than said course of movement of said articles to permitthe escape of said liquid from said receptacle and return to said means.

9. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receivea cleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means for forciblydelivering said liquid to said receptacle and receiving it therefrom,said receptacle having provisions for the introduction of said liquid atwidely separated points to cause said articles to be moved in a cycle insaid receptacle, and provision located above said cycle of movement topermit said liquid to escape from said receptacle to said means.

10. A clothes washing machine comprising a receptacle adapted to receiveacleansing liquid and the articles to be cleaned, means to force saidliquid to said receptacle and receive it again, said receptacle havingprovisions for the introduction of a stream of said liquid upwardly,another stream horizontally and another stream downwardly, and provisionlocated above said horizontal stream to permit the escape of said liquidfrom said recep tacle to said means.

OTTO T. DEHLE.

7. A clothes washing machine comprising

